Current Job at UNICEF for a TA – Child Protection Officer – NOB

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
We are recruiting to fill the vacant position below:

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria is seeking the interest of a qualified Child Protection Officer in the area of SGBV and Child Protection, with a focus on case management (GBV & CP), PSS support, capacity building and reintegration of girls and women who have been affected by conflict related sexual violence.

In the course of 2014 and early 2015, Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad (JAS), more commonly as Boko Haram intensified its attacks on the civilian population in Nigeria, with tactics developing from hit-and-run attacks targeting Government officials, security forces, police stations, detention centers, religious figures and schools, to take-and-hold attacks in which JAS managed to establish and maintain control over large swaths of territory. While in late 2015 and 2016 the Nigerian Armed Forces took back most JAS controlled areas, the fighting caused additional mass displacement, especially in Borno State.

Children have been acutely impacted by the conflict. In particular, sexual violence has been a characteristic of the conflict. It is estimated that 7,000 women and girls have suffered conflict related sexual violence, including following abduction by JAS and forced marriage to their fighters. Many girls and women have become pregnant and given birth as a result of the sexual violence. The girls and women, and their children are facing stigma and, in some cases violence, as they return to their communities following escape or rescue by the Nigerian Armed Forces.

UNICEF is supporting state and non-state partners to build capacity on GBV as well as develop and implement a reintegration programme, to ensure safe supported return for these highly vulnerable girls and women, as well as promote a protective environment in their communities to mitigate against further sexual violence.

Overall Objective of the Temporary Child Protection Officer Position:

The overall objective of the post is to promote the handover of girls and women associated with armed groups to civilian authorities and to ensure their safe, supported return and reintegration and recovery from their experiences.

The incumbent will also support overall GBV Prevention and Response initiatives and programming including but not limited to the capacity building initiatives, case management and PSS support.

Specific Project Objectives to which Positions is Related:

Output 36: By 2017, the capacity of key institutions and civil society is strengthened to monitor and report violence against children especially in humanitarian context and implement gender and age-appropriate prevention and response measures in at least three states.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished Women Peace and security and reintegration:

Work with partners to ensure better reintegration of women and girls who were associated with Boko Haram and who have suffered conflict related sexual violence, through the provision of individual psychosocial support, empowerment/livelihoods, peer group support, family tracing, reunification and reconciliation, and community dialogue to promote return and reintegration

Support in the establishment and monitoring of the reintegration programme for girls and women in a minimum of six local government areas, as well as Maiduguri, in Borno State

Support the organization of the international conference on women peace and security and all pre conference activities

Support the tracing and reunification of families for girls and women

Support the development of community based reintegration activities for affected girls and women

Engage with religious and community leaders to promote reintegration of girls and women impacted by conflict related sexual violence

Under the guidance of the CP Specialist and In close working relationship with the Ministry and other actors ensure that the reintegration strategy for women and girls associated with armed groups and survivors of conflict related sexual violence is developed and implemented

Ensure the availability of alternative care for children born out of conflict related sexual violence who cannot remain with their mothers.

Strengthening GBV Prevention and Response:

Support community prevention and response services for children and women who are survivors of GBV including women, child mothers and adolescent girls affected by conflict related sexual violence

Work closely with the CP Specialist to strengthen the capacity of key service providers and actors to prevent and respond to GBV amongst through facilitating targeted training and ongoing support for state and non-state actors

Work in consultation with the CP Specialist to strengthen the referral mechanism for the girls and women, and their children to available services and programmes, including health, mental health, education and livelihoods programming

Undertake the training of community volunteers and CFS managers on basic GBV and referrals

Manage and quality assure the work of the team of consultants and third party local consultants responsible for overseeing and monitoring the SGBV programme including work in the CFS

Support in the development and implementation of 1-2 programmes which enhance the protective environment for girls and women, in order to protect them from SGBV

Explore the impact of conflict related sexual violence on boys and devise and implement strategies and programmes to support their recovery and reintegration

Ensure effective linkages with other components of the child protection in emergencies programme

Coordination:

Represent UNICEF on the SGBV sub working groups at State and LGA level

Support the CP Specialist to implement the GBV/Reintegration programme, including ensuring timely implementation of activities, timely reporting to the donors, compliance with visibility requirements and compliance with internal UNICEF procedures and processes

Contribute to the the development of new programme cooperation agreements with international and national NGOs for the reintegration of girls and women affected by conflict related sexual violence and for GBV prevention and response programming

In close collaboration with the Information Management Specialist and Officers ensure robust data collection to capture the number of beneficiaries reached by the programme and the impact of the programme, including management of the evaluation of the programme